One of Tampa’s biggest Pride celebrations is coming to a soccer stadium near you. Tampa Bay Sun FC are hosting a mega-sized Pride Night charity fundraiser this Saturday, April 25, as part of their match against Carolina Ascent FC. Tickets are available here.
Kickoff is at 7:30 pm, but the festivities for the Sun’s Pride Night start well in advance of the action on the pitch. The celebration begins at Strandhill Public (309 W Palm Ave) with a matchday happy hour featuring a live DJ, giveaways, enter-to-win prizes, and beer and cocktail specials alongside a lively pre-game party.
Following happy hour, fans are invited to join the March to the Match, as Sun mascot Solé will lead the raucous crowd from Strandhill to Suncoast Credit Union Field for the game, including a ride across the river on the Pirate Water Taxi. The pre-game march will mirror European matchday experiences, with crowds wearing the colors and waving their flags leading a pep rally on foot as they approach the stadium.
The experience continues once you get to the stadium, and even before you get to your seat. Fans are invited to join the paint-by-number mural painting taking place between the main gate and water gate, near the championship banner.
As you enter the stadium, the team is giving away metallic rainbow-colored cowboy hats and rainbow pins, while supplies last. Guests 21+ can enjoy the in-stadium happy hour from 5:30-6:30 pm with $5 Michelob Ultras. The retail shop will also be selling exclusive Pride-themed warmup tops and t-shirts, and the concessions will be offering a tempting special of their own: a chicken tender basket and a Surfside hard iced tea for only $9 total.
The chance to join in the celebration doesn’t end there. There will also be a halftime runway show, and five select fans with the best outfit showcasing pride will be selected to take the pitch to walk the runway. You’ll be glad for the free cowboy hat when it comes time to do your best Project Runway.
As part of the Pride Night celebration, St. Pete Pride will present the official match ball, while a local LGBTQ+ men’s chorus will sing the National Anthem before kickoff.
And of course, the teams on the field will be the biggest show of the night, as the Sun take on the Ascent in one of the final few home games of the 2025-26 season.
And here’s the best part: the entire experience helps support one of the state’s longest-running and most impactful nonprofits. If you purchase a ticket through the designated ticket link, then $5 of your purchase will directly support Equality Florida Institute, a 501(c)(3) that supports LGBTQ+ education and community programs throughout Florida.